September 2007

On the 17th of August the “Movimento Verde Eufémia” went into action, targeting the first transgenic field in the Algarve GMO Free Zone in South Portugal. 65 mowers entered the field and were able to mow a hectare of GM corn in less than 20 minutes. The action received support from a parade of dancers and a samba band!

 

The first Buy Nothing Day was organized in Vancouver in September 1992, designed artist Ted Dave, as a day for society to examine the issue of over-consumption. Participants took on the challenge of spending a day without spending, to do anything but shop; to enjoy the free things in life. The idea was to stimulate people to reflect on the fact that the richest 20% of the human population consume 88% of the earth’s resources, and that it’s people in the poorest countries, those least responsible for unwise consumption, who bear the brunt of the environmental damage: degradation of land, deforestation, pollution of rivers and seas and who are most vulnerable to climatic changes. Buy Nothing Day gained widespread popularity following its promotion by the alternative magazine Adbusters and since then annual participation in the form of creative autonomous actions and has spread to 65 countries.

EYFA (European Youth For Action) developed from a tour that was initiated by a Swedish/German group in 1986 to save the old forests in Europe: then named European Youth Forest Action. From these ‘routes’, it developed into a platform for grassroots movements working to transform local and international communities in their approach to environment and social, political and economical positions.
The international office located in Amsterdam coordinates EYFA’s activities. We support grassroots projects and initiatives in the following ways: